Overview
- A non‑parental man took two children from Missouri, triggering an Endangered Person Advisory and a coordinated search by multiple agencies.
- U.S. Marshals in the Western District of Missouri passed a lead to their New Mexico counterpart that led investigators to a home on Luna Drive in Chaparral.
- Officers found three children at the residence, all were reported safe, and the suspect, identified as Ralph Jones Jr., was arrested without reported incident.
- Jones was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Missouri on kidnapping charges while the children remain under New Mexico CYFD care.
- Officials said the recovery reflects cross‑jurisdictional cooperation among the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, New Mexico State Police and local agencies and that Missouri authorities will coordinate the children’s transfer and the extradition process.